Shipping Question

[chastershop]

Hi. I have not sold anything in Ebay so I want to do the right thing.  Someone just messaged me  and asked if I can lower my shipping to $10 .    It would be shipping a book from Canada to USA.   I am not sure if I have my shipping settings right or not.     I also feel strange having someone ask me to lower the shipping?   Is this something that customers can ask?  The person has not purchased it.   Do I say I cannot lower it?  Are customers allowed to ask for these changes?   Or do I reply and say that I will look into it over the weekend because I do want to recheck that I am doing my shipping right for all my listings... Or LOL do I just say I cannot lower it and on my  own this weekend study/learn more about shipping and make sure all my listings have the right shipping methods.   Sorry for so many questions at once.   I want to do this right.  Thanks

[loveyourimagination49]

Wait for more answers but my guess is it has something to do with customs fees. I don’t ship internationally. As a new user I didn’t think you could.

[berserkerplanet]

There are no customs fees/duties for most imports under $800 coming into the USA.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases

First sale at least 90 days ago and a feedback score of 10 or more is required, so not sure what is going on there.

[candd205]

People can ask anything. It is up to you to say yes or no. Nothing personal about it, they are just trying to get a discount. However, before you consider saying yes or no, if I were you, I ask them for their address so that you can calculate how much it will cost to ship it. Let that be the guide to determine if you will discount shipping.

[ifyouloveit]

Buyers ask for things all the time, usually free shipping. I'm in the USA so I don't know Canadian Shipping, do you have media mail? Books can be shipped cheaper using media mail, if that is an option, but I don't know if that's International.

Don't agree to lower your price until you know you can ship the item for less (aka $10). Buyers often do not know shipping prices and inside the USA, books ship cheaply. Your buyer may be used to buying books only from the USA, and the higher shipping price they wouldn't understand.

Weigh your package and use calculated shipping. And no, you don't have to change anything for a buyer you don't want to 🙂

[sin-n-dex]

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@ifyouloveit wrote:
Buyers ask for things all the time, usually free shipping. I'm in the USA so I don't know Canadian Shipping, do you have media mail? Books can be shipped cheaper using media mail, if that is an option, but I don't know if that's International.

Don't agree to lower your price until you know you can ship the item for less (aka $10). Buyers often do not know shipping prices and inside the USA, books ship cheaply. Your buyer may be used to buying books only from the USA, and the higher shipping price they wouldn't understand.

Weigh your package and use calculated shipping. And no, you don't have to change anything for a buyer you don't want to 🙂

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I live in Canada, a book with tracking costs $16 to $20 or so to ship (in CAD funds).

The buyer probably just doesn't want to pay for such high Canadian shipping. The OP can invoice whatever shipping he wants on his book, but the discount on shipping will eat away at the profit margin.

C.

[loveyourimagination49]

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@berserkerplanet wrote:
There are no customs fees/duties for most imports under $800 coming into the USA.
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases

First sale at least 90 days ago and a feedback score of 10 or more is required, so not sure what is going on there.

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From Canada to USA, read it wrong, thanks for the correction.

[berserkerplanet]

>> also feel strange having someone ask me to lower the shipping? Is this something that customers can ask?

Yes, they can ask. They can't demand. They can't purchase and then demand. They might just be checking to see if you made a mistake, and maybe there is some economy option you might be able and willing to use.

I looked and your shipping costs, and for a book to me in California, $20 to $25 seems a bit high (especially compared to other things you have listed that show under $10 shipping), but are right about what USPS First Class Package International would cost to ship from California to Canada.

I am generally considered to know what I'm doing when it comes to US based shipping, but know nothing much about Canada Post shipping other than what other Canadian sellers have mentioned here (it is in general more expensive than USPS options here). Having said that, I downloaded the Canada Post rate sheets and service guide, and it would probably take me some time to go through it all, understand the parameters, and figure out the best way and cost to ship a book to the US.

That's why potential buyers ask. Shipping cost seems a bit high, or just more than they want to pay for a given item, they know nothing about shipping domestically much less internationally, and so they ask if there are other options.

Seller's choice about whether to offer other options based on evaluation of hassle, insurance/no insurance available or included, risk, speed, availability of any free boxes or packaging with a given service, etc considerations.

You really need a Canadian Seller more comfortable with Canada Post to go over your listings to see if they "feel" about right in terms of shipping costs and options.

[and it looks like Canadian seller sin-n-dex chimed in :-)]

[thedeadheadshop]

My take on this is maybe a little different than some of your other answers. In my opinion I wouldn't get into a back and forth dialogue with this buyer. Here are a few points to consider.

First and foremost, you shouldn't have to check any of your shipping prices once you post a listing. When you state "I am not sure if I have my shipping settings right or not." that is a huge problem. Put simply, if you aren't sure of your settings, then you shouldn't have anything listed in the first place. A lack of understanding and accuracy regarding your shipping costs and methods can bring you (and your buyers) untold grief that as a new seller you simply don't need.

Let's assume your shipping is correct. I looked at your listings and didn't see anything that appeared to be overly priced considering this is an across border shipment. But I also don't know for sure. But assuming it's correct (and frankly even if it isn't), you still don't want to get into a dialogue and negotiation.

You're a new seller, and you can probably expect more than the usual number of questions like this. In all probability it's someone looking to take advantage of your naivete and chisel a bargain from you. If you reply at all, simply state shipping costs are non-negotiable. If that answer is unacceptable, place them on your blocked bidders list.

One other thing. Don't be hesitant or afraid to come here with questions or to seek assistance. When you state "I want to do this right" I believe you. Your listings show that you care, and I sincerely hope you succeed and believe you will.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Dear Buyer, 

Thank you for your interest in my item. I regret i am unable to lower shipping costs, but please be assured that I do not make a profit on postage. 

Sincerely,

Seller

[berserkerplanet]

>>From Canada to USA, read it wrong, thanks for the correction.

No problem. Just wanted to stamp out the "import charges into the US" idea before someone glommed onto it.

[sin-n-dex]

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@berserkerplanet wrote:

You really need a Canadian Seller more comfortable with Canada Post to go over your listings to see if they "feel" about right in terms of shipping costs and options.

[and it looks like Canadian seller sin-n-dex chimed in :-)]

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I don't really have time to review lots of listings (but I pop in here frequently when taking a break from work... I work from home as well as in an office).

Shipping across Canada for something like a few chocolate bars, can easily cost $20 CAD. I'm not sure what shipping such a package to the US would cost (with tracking $16-20 now, without tracking... not sure, maybe $12?) Yes, it's cheaper to ship to the US than ship across our own country. I can ship it across the city for a minimum of $10 using a small business discount (with tracking, there's no option in Canada to ship without tracking if it's a parcel).

The OPs shipping is probably reasonable for what it costs to ship things. It was costing me $3 to ship one coin without tracking back when I started, but now that the rates are so ridiculous and I have stuff I can't afford to get lost with no tracking, I opted to ship a box of packages every Monday to a cross border courier who charges me 60 cents per package to take them to NY. Then I pay USPS rates ($2.66 to $3.09 for a coin). I wasn't doing great a few months ago as far as packages go (as in, losing money with the weekly FedEx package to the courier), but now I've got over a dozen going every Monday, so divide the $16 FedEx charge among 12 packages, and that takes $1 and a bit of profit off each sale (I don't pass the FedEx charge to the customer, but the customer covers the 60 cent courier fee to get the discounted shipping from Canada).

If shipping lots of packages, the cross border courier is a good idea, unfortunately if you only ship a few, you're not saving anything.

C.

[berserkerplanet]

>>The OPs shipping is probably reasonable for what it costs to ship things

I did look at the Canada Post USA Small packet rates (which I gather are about as good as it gets) and they are pretty awful, but right inline with using USPS First Class Package International from US to Canada (mostly tracked because Canada is an e-Delcon country and good enough. Mostly.)

Thanks for the info, More tidbits for OP to ponder.